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Hello. My name is Sheng Ding.
In my lecture today, I will
discuss with you our approach
of discovering and
using small molecules
to control and study stem
cell fate and functions.
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First, let me tell you our
thinking on therapeutic strategies
toward regenerative medicine.
Certainly, we all know
cell-based therapy,
which is about transplanting
the right type of cells
in sufficient quantity
and where they are needed.
However, this approach has
a number of limitations.
Typically, the right
donor cells need
to be identified for immune
compatibility reasons.
The recipient often
needs to be conditioned
before receiving the transplant.
And often the cell
transplantation is
invasive and may not be effective.
Given our understanding
of stem cell biology,
improved approaches have been
developed, especially by using
small molecules in cell
cultures to direct cells
through vivo isolation,
in vitro differentiation,
or reprogramming, as well as our
ex vivo maintenance, expansion,
or activation for
enhanced in vivo activity.
On the other hand, we
do know that pretty
much in every different organ, there
are reserved stem in the progenitor
cells which normally function
to intend tissue homeostasis,
but also to respond
to disease and injury,
to regenerate to a small degree.
This is because the
regeneration signal
is typically not strong
or robust enough.
Therefore, an alternative
and perhaps more attractive
approach for regenerative
medicine would be developing
the conventional small molecule
drugs or biologics that
can be taken by patients
in more convenient ways.
And those molecules can act
in a tissue-specific manner
to modulate patient's own
cells to repair and regenerate
through various mechanisms including
cell activation, expansion,
differentiation, or even
in situ reprogramming.
